Smart grid technology company ENBALA Power Networks has debuted its Grid Balance initiative with the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) to help Ontario commercial and industrial electricity users contribute to the reliability of the province's power system.

ENBALA says Grid Balance is enabled through its intelligent load management platform GOFlex, which continuously connects a network of Ontario organizations and combines together the flexibility in their power usage to respond to the second-to-second demands of the electricity grid.

"Engaging Ontario businesses as active participants in balancing the grid is an important step towards modernizing the province's power system," says Ron Dizy, president and CEO of ENBALA.

"This project represents a big step forward for Ontario's electricity sector," adds IESO President and CEO Bruce Campbell. "Every day in our control room, we see the efforts consumers make to reduce their energy use at peaks, which in turn strengthens reliability. Now we are taking demand response to a new level. We are looking to major power consumers to provide a highly sophisticated - and critical - component of grid reliability."

ENBALA notes it received support to implement its Grid Balance initiative in Ontario from the Ontario Power Authority's Conservation Fund and the Ontario Ministry of Energy's Smart Grid Fund. Participants in the Ontario Grid Balance network are paid for their involvement.

Months after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released its Clean Power Plan, which will create new regulations for existing power plants, the agency says it has received loads of feedback to consider.